winterising boat in lockdown I’m getting worried ????

>>The professional people going about their work, in a marina say, will be safer if there and not lots of boat owners about . Less risk of coming into contact with others during work or when going to the loo for example. Fewer people about = less risk .

That argument doesn't hold much water.

8 Professional Engineers in a boatyard is going to be much the same Covid risk as 4 Professional Engineers and 4 Owner Maintainers.
Especially if the Owner Maintainer has his own loo to use, this is much lower risk than using the shared facilities.

Also ... if a Professional Engineer has to drive down from Port Solent to Hayling, that's a 13 mile journey each way.
That's an extra 26 miles on the roads, as was pointed out previously, he might need to refuel, he could break down or crash, requiring the intervention of the emergency services and putting them at risk.

I'm fairly certain I can a push a Marina Trolley for 100 yards around the corner without needing to refuel, break down, or crash.
And it's not just me, a fair few owners in our Marina are very local too.
 
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jrudge said:
Tinkering with your own boat is not.
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Not tinkering, winterizing.
A visit to set up heaters and de-humidifiers, empty water etc. to prevent thousands of pounds worth of damage from frost or mould.

The tinkering can wait until things improve.
 
MartynG said:
You are only thinking of your own personal circumstances which is not so common. I am in the same position as you with regard to home being a short way from the boat but I can see the wider picture.
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See above, if I don't make the 100 yard trip to Winterise, then it will be a 26 mile trip for an Engineer to do it.
The wider picture is that the more local solution with less travelling is less risky.
 
If it helps to put your mind at rest, I have had a boat on the south coast for 25 years and I Have never suffered from any frost damage in November. I normally “winterise” at the end of November so unless we are really unlucky, and the current forecasts for the next month are all wrong, then I would think you will be fine. If the weather does take a turn and you can’t put your heaters on etc by Thursday then as you say I’m sure a quick trip could be made, but the “ spirit” of what is being asked is that we stay at home as much as possible(as much as I hate doing it!)
 
This is what the Broads Authority are currently saying:

We strongly advise that private boat owners take steps to ‘winterise’ their boats (if required by the owner) before the 5 November. We recognise the concern that this may cause boat owners and we are urgently seeking clarification from DEFRA on whether this activity will be permitted from 5 November.
 
MartynG said:
What are you waiting for ? Get it done before Thursday .
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? I will do as much as possible before Thursday, although I am working as well.
The only things I can't do are drain some bits of the cooling system, and put in the dehumidifier and radiator - the mooring is too exposed and they might fall over.
So one quick visit after Thursday when she's been lifted out should sort it.
 
FlowerPower said:
This means you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes. These include:

  • for childcare or education, where this is not provided online
  • for work purposes, where your place of work remains open and where you cannot work from home (including if your job involves working in other people’s homes)
  • to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place

My boat is in an outdoor public place, and does not require travel to get to it.
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If you get bored you could always take me along for a sea trial to sort out an engine gremlin .
 
MartynG said:
The marina where I keep my boat have said they don't intend to close but the main gate will be on the out of hours setting - eg needing the key to open it.
I don't see why any marina office should close as they still need to keep an eye on things , process accounts etc. There is no reason for the marina to halt any professional work on boats .

At the lockdown earlier in the year we did stay away despite the marina being in walking range from home.
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Be interested to hear if your marina closes as I was booked to trial a boat for sale in your marina on Friday but the owner has told me he is not allowing and contractors or berth holders on site after Thursday. He has bullied the buyer into a rush purchase without proper survey .
Im sure there is a description of that .
 
MartynG said:
I expect paid work done professionally does have a potential to be safer than DIY work in that professional/skilled people will be more aware of risks and better placed to assess them and have better tools and better PPE than the DIY amateur.

However I think you mean to ask why is paid work safer against spread of Covid virus ?
The professional people going about their work, in a marina say, will be safer if there and not lots of boat owners about . Less risk of coming into contact with others during work or when going to the loo for example. Fewer people about = less risk .
The government want people to keep working when they can other than certain sectors that are required to close. So the rules help keep those who are able to work safer against the virus.
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No contractors allowed in your marina I’m told , myself included .
 
Whats all of this cooling system draining about.
Just put a tube heater in the engine bay on a thermostat. Another near the calorifier . Dehumidifier plugged in . Open the taps and let the domestic water all pump out until the taps are spitting air then shake the shower heads dry.
One hour max?
 
>>Whats all of this cooling system draining about

Leaving the coolers full of salty water all winter isn't a great idea with D4-260s.
Nothing to do with freezing, it's better to drain them down even with a heater in there.
 
MartynG said:
Whats all of this cooling system draining about.
Just put a tube heater in the engine bay on a thermostat. Another near the calorifier . Dehumidifier plugged in . Open the taps and let the domestic water all pump out until the taps are spitting air then shake the shower heads dry.
One hour max?
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We always run environmentally friendly anti-freeze through the raw water side - never trust heaters as power tripping out in marinas isn’t uncommon.
We don’t like to leave the boat with de-humidifier and heaters if we can’t check it at least weekly, which presents a problem in lockdown if we can’t make checks. I certainly wouldn’t leave it for four weeks and possibly/probably longer.
.
 
volvopaul said:
Be interested to hear if your marina closes
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I will look into that . No email received from the marina.... yet.
They didn't prohibit bertholders at the lockdown earlier in the year , although the great majority stayed away.

.
 
Restoration man said:
Well I’ve given it a good thought and I’ve decided Even if I can’t get down before Thursday I’m definitely going anyway even if I get stopped I will pay the fine ,the boat is a new to me boat and one engine has no antifreeze in it so I’m definitely not taking the chances , I’m not getting my engines wrecked , i won’t be interacting with anyone else , so I don’t see the harm
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Just tell me how many peoples lives is your boat worth. Behave like an Adult rather than a selfish child
 
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Greg2 said:
........... never trust heaters as power tripping out in marinas isn’t uncommon.
.
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I think the dehumidifier will have to be left switched off. I will make every effort to get to the boat tomorrow and/or Wednesday evening . Might have time at lunchtime . I frequently don't often see a lunch break over recent months but this may be a good reason to take a break. Its just the domestic water that needs pumping off.
I can see if there is a power cut and switch the supply on/off via the internet app that operates the recently fitted electric system. It also notifies the marina of any problem.
 
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